Flexible cleaner



May 30, 1933.

FLEXIBLE CLEANER Filed March 28, 1932 "we TOR E. Ernst ,HodeH. K2 "0. K%,

ATTORNEY E. A. HODELL 1,912,137 I Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT". orr ce ERNST A. HODELL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SUPERHEATER COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK,'N. Y.

FLEXIBLE GLEANEB Application filed March 28,1932. Serial nacoism.

My invention relates to cleaners or scrapers of the flexible type adapted to clean the interiors of bent tubes similar to those of Stirling type boilers or other bent tubes in boilers and heaters which are apt to become incrusted with use.

It is the principal object of my. invention to provide a ing elements thereon adapted to be drawn thru interiors of incrusted bent tubes and to readily and conveniently clean such tubes.

The novel features of my invention are pointed out in the appended claims. In order, however, that the invention, together with the objects and advantages thereof, may be more fully and clearly understood,

I will now describe in detail and in connection with the accompanying drawing two forms of cleaners embodying my invention and selected by way of example from a number of possible embodiments thereof. In the drawing,

Fig. 1 illustrates one form of my invention lying within a bent tube.

Fig. 2 is a detailed elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion of the cleaning device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an elevational detail view of a portion of a device adapted to be substituted for the one shown in Fig. 2 but having a different form.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the portion shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a part of the portion of the device shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is afragment of the device appearing also in Figs. 2 and 6.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, 10 is a curved tube which may be the tube of a boiler or other fluid heater subject to incrustation in use. For cleaning the inner surfaces of such tubes I have illustrated a device in accordance with my invention and comprising a flexible structure 12 formed of longitudinally extending portions between which are gripped a considerable number of stiff bristle-like members 14, 14 which project outwardly from the flexible structure flexible member having clean;

12 and are adapted to brush against or scrape andthereby clean the inner surface of tube10. V j I In. the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the flexible structure 12 comprises a series "of links 16, 16. Each link16 is ininter-engaging relation with'thos'e oneach side of it in a chain-like arrangementg To provide a convenient arrangement for holding the bristle members '14, each link 16 iscomposed' of two parts 18, 18 each roughly in the form" of a U, the two parts 18 of a given link 16 lying, however, in 7 different planes and having their 7 open ends facing in opposite direction with their legs overlapping longitudinally of the link. The Us 18, moreover, are partially closed; that is to say, the legs ofthe Us lie closer together toward their free ends than atthebend of the U so that when the legs of two similar Us are overlapped only a small clearance is left" between the two pairs of legs. The bristle members 14 have a U orJ shape and are arranged between the legs of the Us 18, bristle members 14 having a size such that they must be forced into placebetween the members 18 so that they are firmly clamped in the desired position." Preferably each bristle member 14 is clamped near its centre so that bothits ends project radially outward. from the. link 16. to which it is secured whereby both ends of a given member 14 are active in brushing or scraping. Furthermore, preferably two sets or groups of bristle members are placed on one link 16, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The U members 18 of a given link 16 are welded or other? wise secured together when the parts have been assembled, asabove described, and prefg erably the connections between'two Umembers include bodies of weld metal 20, 20 (Fig. 2) applied to the parts 18 at the ends of each group of bristle members 14 to hold the bristles securely against slipping length- 95 wise of the links 16. A convenient way of connecting two members 18 together to form a link 16 is to employ a pair of small plates 22, 22 of the proper shape to engage the inner surfaces of two pairs of legs of two 14m overlapping U members 18 and to weld or braze such members 22 to the legs of such members 18. Such plates 22 reduce the size of the bodies of Weld metal for holding the members 18 of a given link together, but I do not limit myself to their use.

In the arrangement illustratedin Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the legs of the "U members 18 are parallel.

of link 16' a general U form but having the legs twisted or warped so that their ends overlap. When are overlapped with, their open ends facing, the clearance space two such members 18' for the. reception. of bristle members 14 is spiral or helical, as appears clearly in Fig. 4. The resulting helical arrangement of the members 14 is advantageous in spreading the ends of members 14 in a. given group angularly about the axis of structure 16 and so promoting the contact of the ends of the bristles with the entire inner surface of the tube to be cleaned. However, I do no limit myself to this. It will be understood that links 18 may be used to build a flexible member 12 in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1 in which links 16 are used for this purpose.

lVhile I have illustrated two forms of the invention having a flexible member of a chain-like character and formed of comparatively rigid links, I do not limit myself to this as I may employ a flexible member having a rope-like character. g

It will be understood further that the bristle members 14 are preferably of spring steel, but that I do not limit myself to any particular material.

WVhat I'claim is:

1. A cleaner having a flexible elongated member composed of links formed of two overlapping U members, said two U members in each link having their bights opposed to one another and the legs of the U members of a given link having a clearance therebetween, and bristle members fixed between the overlappingsportions of said U members.

2. A cleaner as set forth in claim 1 and in which each cleaning link has two sets of V-shaped bristles. v

3. A claim 1 and in which the U members of the link are in warped relationship whereby. bristles of a given group lie in a plurality of axial planes.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ERNST A. HODELL.

I do not limit myself to this, how i ever, and have shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a form composed of portions 18, 18" of' link for a cleaner as set forth in 

